Morning Hits: Steen, Failed Physicals and Injury Notes
Alex Steen announced today that because of a back injury that he suffered during the 2019-20 season, he'll no longer be able to play and is retiring.
On the St. Louis Blues …

St. Louis Blues: The Blues and Alex Steen agree on a four-year contract extension worth $23 million.

Cap Friendly: Steen’s salary cap hit will be $5.75 million. The Blues have $59.4 million committed to 16 players for next year.

Andy Strickland: Steen’s contract breakdown $7 million, $7 million, $5.5 million and $3.5 million.

On the Colorado Avalanche …

Colorado AvalancheJiri Tlusty is at the Avalanche camp, but failed his physical. Trent Vogelhuber is day-to-day with appendicitis.

On the Minnesota Wild …

Michael RussoTomas Fleischmann is at the Wild camp, but failed his physical. Coach Bruce Boudreau doesn’t know yet what his status will be for the remained of camp.

On the New York Islanders …

Arthur Staple: Not surprising that Mikhail Grabovski failed his physical with the Islanders.

On the Edmonton Oilers …

Jim Matheson: Defenseman Andrew Ference failed his medical after having major hip surgery.

On the Chicago Blackhawks …

Tracey Myers: The Blackhawks nor Duncan Keith would say if he’d be ready for their season opener, but both sounded optimistic.

On Team Russia …

Dave Molinari: It is not known if Pavel Datsyuk will be able to play in today’s semifinal game against Team Canada.

On the Dallas Stars …

Mike Heika: Stars winger Ales Hemsky suffered a groin injury while playing at the World Cup of Hockey.

On the Toronto Maple Leafs …

Kevin McGran: Nikita Soshnikov isn’t skating at the start of Maple Leafs camp as he has a lower-body injury.